Native Plants
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Sunday - March 30, 2014
From: Phenix City, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Erosion Control, Groundcovers, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Erosion controlling Groundcover for Phenix AL
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
Hi I am trying to find a grass or ground cover to control erosion on firing range berms which are 1:1 grade on a firing range outside of Phenix City AL. Sandy clay soil, direct sunlight almost all day. Hopefully cheap to initially plant, easy or no maintenance, and self seeding. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.ANSWER:
Mr Smarty Plants thinks you are certainly working in the right direction to look for native plants to stabilize your berms. They certainly fit your requirements of easy or no maintenance and self seeding.
The general approach we use to limit erosion is to recommend clumping grasses or shrubs that have extended root systems. It is these that hold the soil and stabilize it against the flow of water. I’ve collected a set of previous question/answer pairs from Mr Smarty Plants that address erosion and groundcover recommendations from cities in Alabama and Georgia. In addition to the recommendations, pay attention to the methods using the Wildflower Center resources to find candidate plants and approaches.
Ground cover for sun in Phenix City, AL
Plants to stop erosion in Alabama
Flowering Deer Resistant Ground Cover for Dry Rocky Soil: Alabama
Plants for slope in central Alabama
Native plants for erosion control in Cataula GA
Deer Resistant, Fast Growing Groundcover Suggestions for Georgia
Hillside Erosion Control for Gainesville GA
Here are 5 grasses from those recommended above that are relatively low and tend to clump, which means they will function well controlling erosion.
Aristida stricta (Pineland threeawn)
Muhlenbergia capillaris (Gulf muhly)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)
Andropogon virginicus (Broomsedge bluestem)
Two more groundcovers [Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy) and Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit) ] from the above discussions are quite low and give great cover and virtually zero maintenance. They are a bit less functional at erosion control, but are an excellent zero maintenance lawnlike cover.
From the Image Gallery
More Erosion Control Questions
Erosion control on 30-ft. berms in Manor, TX
February 06, 2009 - The Austin Rifle Club has recently re stacked its over 30ft high backstops. We know their will be erosion to these earthen berms.
We need some suggestions on what to plant.
Our club is a traini...
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Plants to stop creek bank erosion in North Carolina
June 26, 2009 - Hi:
I live in NC where most of the dirt is clay based. I have a small creek behind my house that is eroding. The creek overflows when there is a heavy rain and as a result, gradual erosion. My g...
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Difficult slope in Tarrytown NY
March 03, 2009 - I hope you can help. Is there a way to plant some native shrubs and plants on a steep slope that is filled in some areas with rock without having to tier the slope? The section is approximately 50' w...
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Grasses for a pasture in Hays County, Texas with horses
March 20, 2015 - I intend to sow grass seed over a few acres of pasture on which I'll have a couple of horses in Driftwood, TX. I'd like to know what variety of seed(s) would be most beneficial to the land - and th...
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Hillside Erosion Control for Gainesville GA
August 07, 2013 - I have a steep bare hill and the runoff from it is heavy this year. I need help with a fast growing groundcover that will help control erosion and runoff. Planting on the hill is difficult because you...
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